MANX LOTTERY TRUST FUNDING HELPS PROVIDE A NEW PLAYGROUND FOR FOXDALE SCHOOL

Foxdale School have purchased brand new playground equipment thanks to a grant from the Manx Lottery Trust, a delegated partner of Big Lottery Fund.

A new climbing frame, pyramid, seesaw and slide, suitable for all pupils from reception to year six, have been installed in Foxdale School’s playground.

Over the past year, the Friends of Foxdale School organised several fundraising events, which alongside a grant of £11,000 from the Manx Lottery Trust, went towards creating the new play area.

The Friends arranged jumble sales, dress down days, bake sales, bingo nights and a summer fair to raise money so the old structure, which had been in place for almost 25 years, could be replaced with brand new equipment.

Mrs Jessopp, Head teacher at Foxdale School, said: ‘We are absolutely thrilled with the new playground and the pupils seem to really enjoy playing on it. Our old climbing frame needed some repairs so it was time to a replace it with something suitable for children of all ages.

‘On behalf of the staff and pupils I would like to thank the Friends of Foxdale School for their fundraising efforts, and the Manx Lottery Trust for their generous award which made this ambitious project a reality sooner than expected.’

The new playground was officially opened in December 2016 by two pupils, Oliver Kennington and Gethin Owen.

Lulu Gillow, Chair of the Manx Lottery Trust, added: 'it is always pleasing when a community works together to raise funds for a project and we were happy to assist the school and its supporters with this grant from our Community Awards Programme.'